Stonewallby Michael Aubrecht, Copyright
2005
Article For Sale at FaithWriters
A few weeks ago, the concept of “religious
conviction” and the “power of faith” came up during
our Sunday evening Bible study. Our Pastor recalled
several instances in both the Old and New
Testaments in which individuals were able to
overcome extreme circumstances due to their
unwavering belief in the Word of God. We also
discussed some of the challenges met by those
attempting to spread the Gospel and how they
petitioned non-believers to not only learn and live
by the Word, but to teach it to others as well. I
found the idea of sharing faith to be very
enlightening and was working on a related study of
someone who personified this wonderful concept of
“student/teacher”. That individual is General
Thomas Jackson whose “spiritual strength” and
devotion has inspired generations of Christians
since the days of the Civil War.

Regarded as one of the more “godly
heroes” in American military history, Thomas
Jackson is still considered to be one of the most
inspirational and eccentric of all the
Confederacy’s leaders. Raised an Episcopalian, he
joined the Presbyterian Church in the early 1850s
and later became a deacon who generously donated
one tenth of his earnings to the church. Eager to
share his renewed faith with all people, Jackson
started a Sunday school in Lexington for African
Americans and proudly practiced civil disobedience
while teaching black children the ways of
salvation. Although he could not alter the social
status of slaves, he committed himself to Christian
decency and pledged to “assist the souls of those
held in bondage.”

Despite his patriotic devotion as a
career military man, Jackson maintained that his
first duty was always that of a soldier in what he
referred to as “The Army of the Lord”. After
graduating 17th (out of 59) in his class at West
Point, he served in the Mexican War before
accepting a teaching position at the Virginia
Military Institute. Specializing in “Natural
Physics” Jackson established the reputation as a
brilliant artillery commander and was personally
selected by General Robert E. Lee to command a
company of VMI cadets. Distraught over the North’s
impending invasion of the South, he swore his
allegiance to the Army of Northern Virginia and
vowed to fight for God and country to the bitter
end. Duty however, did not stifle his religious
convictions and many members of his fearless
brigade were quickly indoctrinated with their
commander’s infectious faith.

Perhaps best known as “Stonewall”,
Jackson earned his nickname at the First Battle of
Manassas, after refusing to withdraw his troops in
the face of total carnage. After Brigadier General
Barnard Bee informed him that his forces were being
beaten back, Jackson replied, "Sir, we will give
them the bayonet." Inspired by the bravery of his
subordinate, General Bee immediately rallied the
remnants of his brigade while shouting "There is
Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us
determine to die here, and we will conquer." A
devout believer in predestination, Jackson insisted
that God had already determined his time on earth
and that no spot on the battlefield was safer than
the other. It was this unwavering conviction that
enabled him to lead his troops into battle without
the fear of death and inspire countless others to
rally behind him.

Courage however, could not hide his
obvious distaste for war and regardless of victory;
Jackson remained committed to ending the conflict
as soon as possible. Preaching a harsh philosophy
of swift and total destruction, Jackson believed
that the sooner an enemy force was destroyed - the
less lives would ultimately be lost. He referred to
this action as “the black flag” and reminded his
officers that regardless of their orders, duty was
theirs – the consequences were God’s.

During the Shenandoah Campaign of
1862, Jackson repeatedly proved himself to be a
brilliant strategist, but still found time to hold
Bible study and hymnal sessions with the senior
officers of his brigade. Despite being an
“academic”, he resisted the urge to glorify war and
routinely quoted “battle accounts” taken from the
Bible in place of his own reports. Always eager to
share his relationship with the Father, Jackson
wrote letter after letter urging his countrymen
(and women) to actively seek repentance. One
letter, written to his sister, summarized his
faith:

You wish to know how to come to
God; so as to have your sins forgiven, and to
receive "the inheritance which is incorruptible and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Now my dear
sister the way is plain: the savior says in Mark
XVI chapter, 16th verse "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved." But you may ask what is
it to believe. To explain this I will quote from an
able theologian, and devoted servant of God. To
believe in the sense in which the word is used
here, "is feeling and acting as if there were a
God, a Heaven, a Hell; as if we were sinners and
must die; as if we deserve eternal death, and were
in danger of it. And in view of all, casting our
eternal interests on the mercy of God in Christ
Jesus. To do this is to be a
Christian."

Always a teacher, Jackson dedicated
almost every waking moment (that did not require
his military service) to educating the uneducated,
uplifting the downtrodden and introducing those
around him to the glory of God. His popularity with
the troops also enabled him to reach them in ways
that other men could not and he was often found
praying with the wounded at their bedside. After a
series of tremendous victories, the Confederacy
appeared to be well on its way to declaring
independence. However, the fortunes of war would
quickly turn in the Union’s favor after the sudden
and accidental death of the general they called
“Stonewall.”

On May 2, 1863, during the battle
of Chancellorsville, Jackson’s own men accidentally
fired upon him resulting in three wounds and an
amputated arm. Initially, he looked to make a full
recovery, but he later developed an incurable case
of pneumonia. After a few days, it was a foregone
conclusion that death was drawing near. Upon
hearing his prognosis, Jackson replied that he had
always wanted to die on a Sunday and that, "It will
be infinite gain to be translated to Heaven." He
then asked his wife to pray for him but to always
use the petition of “Thy Will Be Done.” In the end,
he clearly accepted his fate as part of God’s
divine plan and resolved to spend his last hours
before delirium set in, reading the
Bible.

A few moments before he died, he
cried out, “Order A. P. Hill to prepare for
action!” Then a smile spread over his face, and he
quietly whispered his last words saying, “Let us
cross over the river and rest under the shade of
the trees.” Finally, without the slightest sign of
pain or discomfort, his spirit passed with open
arms back to God, who was most certainly awaiting
his arrival. He was 39 years old.
Excerpts taken from Onward
Christian Soldier: The Spiritual Journey of
Stonewall by Michael Aubrecht, Publish America,
Copyright 2004

Southern Knightby Michael Aubrecht, Copyright
2005
Article For Sale at FaithWriters
For non-believers, death is often considered the
end of all things, but, to Christians, it
represents a new beginning. Our time here on Earth
is short compared to eternity in Heaven, and what
we do with this time determines our reward in the
afterlife. Unfortunately, many people today waste
their precious time focusing on self-fulfillment.
Sadly, few leave behind a meaningful legacy. A
legacy is the memory of who we were and the ways in
which we touched the lives of others. History has
recorded countless men who served their time on
Earth in such an inspirational way. Their legacy
continues to live on, years and years after their
death. Such is the story of J.E.B. Stuart: soldier,
servant, and Southern hero.

James Ewell Brown Stuart was born
in Patrick County, Virginia, on February 6, 1833.
His lineage was that of a Scotch Presbyterian, his
forebears having immigrated to the Americas seeking
refuge from religious persecution. Thanks to a
distinguished ancestry, it’s not surprising that
Stuart men were widely known as gentleman of great
virtue. Both their Christian roots and their
sincere appreciation for their religious freedoms
inspired them to give back to the community
whenever possible. Their undying commitment to
serve God provided a foundation of values and
morality that benefited their family for
generations to come.

In June of 1850, Stuart was
accepted as a candidate for West Point. Both a good
student and a skilled horseman, J.E.B. applied
himself diligently and rose successively through
the ranks. After graduating thirteenth in a class
of forty-six, he was immediately commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the prestigious regiment of
Mounted Rifles and assigned to duties in the
mid-western territories. It was during this period
that J.E.B. became more intimate in his
relationship with God. Often he would conduct a
Bible study with his fellow Christian troopers, and
his dedication to the reading of the written Word
grew more each day. Both the desolate location of
his post and the lack of distractions may have
played a big part in Stuart’s salvation.

A few years later, secession and a
“Call To Arms” for the recently established
Confederate States of America, led J.E.B. back to
his homeland of Virginia. As with many of his
comrades, it was with a heavy heart that Stuart
entered the War Between the States. After pledging
his loyalty to the Union and serving the government
with such impeccable duty over the years, his
conscience was troubled over participating in what
many referred to as a “forced resolution.” As with
all civil wars, both sides believed they were
justified. Both believed that they were acting on
behalf of God.

Over the next few years, J.E.B.
achieved many great victories that boosted the
morale of Southerners everywhere. Many papers
covered his actions with great bias, and his
flamboyant reputation as a raider grew to immense
proportions. One particular skirmish involving
Stuart’s troops resulted in the largest cavalry
battle in American military history.

On May 8, 1864, J.E.B. and his men
prepared to engage the enemy at a strategically
superior location known as Yellow Tavern. Although
they had achieved the element of surprise, the cost
was dear as both the men and horses were exhausted
from the ride. Realizing the desperateness of their
situation, Stuart rushed among his men and tried to
rally them. As the Federals withdrew, a private
hurriedly fired his pistol into a group of mounted
Confederates by the Telegraph Road. Instantly
J.E.B. clutched his side. Looking down at his
bleeding abdomen, he calmly whispered, “I am shot.”
Later he said, “I’m afraid they’ve killed me. I
will be of no more use.” As several of his troopers
rushed to his aid, the wounded general scolded
them, yelling, “Go back! Go back! Do your duty as
I’ve done mine.”

Fleeing the ensuing battle, an
ambulance managed to evacuate Stuart to the house
of his brother-in-law on Grace Street in Richmond.
After placing the distraught commander in bed, the
wound was inspected and judged mortal, given the
medical capabilities of the time. After his worldly
matters were concluded, J.E.B. focused his
remaining thoughts on the journey that lay ahead.
He turned to the Reverend Peterkin of the Episcopal
Church and asked him to sing his favorite hymn,
commencing, “Rock of ages cleft for me, Let me hide
myself in thee…” Then he joined the ministers in
prayer. He said his last words to the doctor,
stating, “I am going fast now; I am resigned; God’s
will be done.” J.E.B. Stuart finally died at about
7:30 p.m. on May 12, 1864, just hours before his
family arrived. He was 31 years old.

In the end, it was far more than
the service record, personal items, horses, and
other accoutrements that Stuart left behind. It was
the deep spiritual roots and patriotism that he had
instilled in his children and his men. These are
the memories that have truly made his story
unforgettable. Captain R. E. Frayser, from Stuart’s
staff, later stated, “In this short period of
thirty-one years, four months and twelve days, he
won a glorious and imperishable name, and one that
posterity will delight to cherish and
honor.”

Such is the legacy of James Ewell
Brown Stuart, the Christian cavalier who lived for
the glory of God all the days of his life.
Excerpts taken from Christian
Cavalier: The Spiritual Legacy of JEB Stuart by
Michael Aubrecht, Publish America, Copyright
2005